Man charged with arson, burglary
A reportedly homeless man was arrested Monday on multiple felony charges, including arson, after he allegedly set fire to a vacant house and burglarized a nearby residence.
Patrick Merle Brown, 27, who lists no current address, was taken into custody shortly after 1:30 p.m. and charged with arson, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, residential burglary, punishable by up to 20 years and theft of property over $5,000, punishable by up to 10 years.
Brown remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of bonds totaling $18,500 and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 1:30 p.m. Officer Robert Plyler was working traffic detail at an ongoing structure fire at 126 Jonquil Place when two men who were renting a residence at 118 Jonquil Place approached him to report they had an intruder in their residence.
As Plyler approached the residence he reportedly observed a white male, later identified as Brown, running from the carport entry door toward Jonquil Place and ordered him to stop, and he complied. After he was taken into custody, police reportedly found a lighter, box cutter knife, pocket knife and $380 in cash in his possession.
One of the men said he observed the carport door open to his residence and went around to the rear entrance. At the rear door, he observed Brown inside his residence carrying his blue duffle bag. When confronted, Brown reportedly dropped the duffle bag and ran out of the carport where he was apprehended by police.
When questioned by Detective John Ham-
mons, Brown allegedly admitted he started the structure fire with his lighter “due to his personal property being stolen from other squatters” at that location. He said he started separate fires inside the vacant property in three different locations.
The property damage for the buildings was estimated at $52,950.
Brown reportedly made entry into the 118 Jonquil Place residence through an unlocked bedroom window and obtained a duffle bag, which he allegedly filled with watches, cologne, speakers and more than $10,000 in cash.
He said he took two other duffel bags and a rifle from the residence and placed them under a shed behind a residence on Pringle Street. The stolen property and money were reportedly returned to the owners.